Youth Update: Dec. 3, 2011

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – On Saturday, Dec. 3, the New England Revolution Under-18 and Under-16 teams kicked off their first day of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Winter Showcase, held at the Premier Sports Complex in Sarasota, Fla. The U18s earned a win in their first action, while the U16s suffered their first loss.

UNDER-18s

The Under-18s earned a 1-0 victory against Charlotte Soccer Academy (N.C.) in their first game of the Winter Showcase, extending their unbeaten streak to three games. Charlotte came out strong, maintaining much of the possession and testing Revolution goalkeeper Tyler Zon (Wellesley, Mass.) early. But as the first half progressed, momentum began to shift and New England combined well to facilitate offensive build-up. The teams entered the break scoreless, but a 54th-minute goal then put the Revs ahead. Devin Devoy (North Attleborough, Mass.) sent the ball into the box from the right wing, where Ramiro Osorio (Hooksett, N.H.) connected and found the back of the net. Both teams continued to generate scoring opportunities in the remaining 36 minutes, but the Revs’ lead held through to the final whistle.

UNDER-16s

The Under-16s suffered a 2-0 loss to Charlotte Soccer Academy in their Showcase opener. New England delivered a solid performance in the opening 10 minutes, moving the ball with confidence. Play leveled out as the half wore on, however, and Charlotte went up a goal in the 31st minute, when an open Axel Rojas slotted one home from the top of the six-yard box. The Revs came out with more energy in the second half, but Charlotte’s Giovanni Castro scored a second goal in the 66th minute. New England pressed for a consolation goal in the final minutes of the match, with a shot from Amadu Kunteh (Lynn, Mass.) and a side volley from Steven Duncan (Barrington, R.I.) both sailing over the crossbar. After 80 minutes, Charlotte handed New England its first loss of the 2011-12 season.

Zachary Herivaux (Brookline, Mass.) was unavailable to play with the U16s after being named to one of the Develop Academy Select Teams. The U.S. Soccer scouting network, Technical Advisors and Youth National Team coaches selected 78 players based on their performances at Academy games, Training Centers and Youth National Team camps. As a 1995 birth year, Herivaux was assigned to one of two Select Teams that faced off on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 5 p.m. The matches provide the players with the opportunity to play alongside some of the top performers in their age groups.

Still unbeaten after its first three games of the 2011-12 season, the Under-18 team now holds a 3-0-0 record (9 pts.) and is tied with Empire United for first place in the Northeast Division. With today’s loss, the Under-16 team is now 2-1-0 (6 pts.) and remains alone at the top of the division. The squads will next take on the Chicago Fire (Ill.) in their second games of the Winter Showcase on Sunday, Dec. 4.